Narrowing digital divide

Abstract

This paper analyses the effectiveness of the Internet as a tool for civic engagement amongyouth during the 2000, 2004, and 2008 US presidential elections. In this context, youth can beunderstood as the segment of the electorate comprised of individuals between the ages of 18 and25 years. The authors apply concepts of the digital divide to address, hypothetically, the questionof whether the Internet is the cure-all for political malaise among youth. As such, without thedigital divide, would the Internet be able to resolve the issue of low political involvement amongyouth? This analysis concludes that the impact of the Internet on youth political participationhas been demonstrated to be successful. The Internet has not only become a revolutionary andpromising political communication medium and campaign tool, it is also a bulwark of democracy.